Some Illinois banks have agreed to waive fees for Holocaust reparations.
At least 85 out of 700 banks have agreed to the request by state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias to forego the international wire transfer fees on the payments from the German government, which can be $10 to $40 per transfer, that average $350 a month.
More than 5,000 survivors of the Holocaust live in Illinois, according to Allan Reich, the president of the Chicago chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
Banks in California, Massachusetts, Florida and Minnesota have also looked into waivers, Roland Herrmann, the deputy consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany, said at a joint news conference Tuesday with Reich and Giannoulias.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
